The call for papers is open for IBM Innovate 2013. This year there are two streams: The Technical Exchange @Innovate and Team Directions @Innovate. Full descriptions for these streams and their areas of interest are on the conference website. The submission deadline has been extended to January 21, 2013!

So, think about ideas for your paper. If you have general questions about submission ideas, leave a comment on this post or use the message board.

UPDATE: Information about all conference tracks is available on the call for papers site, but track chairs for the following subjects have offered ideas about what might make a good paper topic -and- they are eager to hear any ideas that you have for these tracks:

Show measurable results: There is a big difference between saying “This worked for us” and “We achieved a 35% Return on Investment”. Measurable results are a great way to prove the effectiveness of your strategies to your audience.

Use real-life examples: There is no substitute for experience. Audiences love to hear directly from people who have implemented winning strategies. If you’re an IBMer or an IBM Business Partner, team up with a client to bring your story to life. If you’re a client, dedicate some of your time to letting your audience know how things really worked, or didn’t!

Avoid sales pitches: Infomercials are not welcome. Audiences want to learn how to be successful; if that includes a mention of a specific product or service, then great. If that focuses solely on a given product or service, then audiences will tune out. If you came to advertise, you should participate in our solution center.

Explain the big picture: how your organization collaborated: Software delivery is a team sport. And while your presentation may focus on a specific aspect of software delivery, it likely has impacts on other areas of, or individuals within, your organization. Don’t forget about those impacts, tell us how you integrated and collaborated with other tools, areas or individuals. We want to understand the full impact of your strategies.

Speak to your industry: Sometimes your successful strategies will be dependent on circumstances unique to your organization. Consider generalizing your guidance so that it will apply to others in similar industries or more generic situations.